Find the Best Yoga and Meditation Retreats 2018/2019

On a yoga and meditation retreat, you will deepen your meditation practice, surrounded by like-minded people. Heal yourself–mind, body, and soul–through various spiritual workshops, breathing exercises, daily yoga classes, and mindfulness-based techniques. Whether you find inner peace at home in the UK or deep in the sacred land of Rishikesh, India, you will find lots of unique yoga and meditation retreats that are perfect for you.

Because, haven't you heard?

Meditation and mindfulness are all the rage. That’s a good thing, too. Meditation reduces depression, increases happiness, alleviates stress, improves cognitive functioning and improves sleep. It’s hard not to want in on that.

In fact, mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy is one of the most widely used therapeutic techniques among mental health professionals today. It promotes overall health and well-being of both the body and mind, reduces blood pressure, rewires the brain to better handle stress and anxiety, and (best of all) is free.

The reason that mindfulness meditation is so popular among the yoga community is that it truly aligns with yogic principles. With various meditation exercises, you can deepen your yoga practice and improve your breathing. Even better, you can experience ultimate healing.

Then, take these meditation techniques back to your daily life, ensuring that your experience brings you long term happiness.

With a simple breathing exercise, undoubtedly included in virtually every yoga class, you can transform your physical exercise into a deeply spiritual one.

How?

Imagine moving through your morning yoga poses to the gentle rise and fall of your breath, as with ashtanga vinyasa yoga. With each measured breath, your thoughts gently fall to the wayside, along with any stress and anxiety that you brought with you to your yoga mat.

You don't need to attend a meditation center to achieve these benefits, either. Yogic pranayama breathing is a fundamental part of both yoga and the basic meditation technique.

Whether you use meditation to take your own spiritual practice deeper or you use meditation to improve your life (in basically every way possible) is up to you. Either way, we have the perfect meditation holidays for you.

A meditation yoga vacation program will help you escape from the madness with a peaceful getaway. Center yourself on a yoga and meditation retreat in India or stay behind for a rejuvenating weekend retreat in the UK. Improve your life tremendously on a meditation retreat this year.

Check out which program fits best with your personal goals, experience, and style. Then, explore our listings to find the perfect retreat center for you.

What to Expect at a Yoga Meditation Holiday

Most people leave with a life-changing experience, one that completely transforms the mind, body, and soul.

It's not just about spiritual healing and mindful awareness (though aren't those things nice?). It's also about connecting with the yoga studio in a way that not only promotes overall wellness but also serves as a form of yoga therapy

Whether you practice guided meditation, vinyasa flow, or gentle yoga, you are likely to notice little movements in your body and mind.

Daily meditation sessions can significantly improve your yoga practice, allowing you to notice all the moving parts of your yoga postures. Pranayama breathing will guide you through the yoga postures just like your breath guides you through your meditation sessions.

And when your yoga sessions will become meditation sessions, you will begin to see your personal transformation.

Not all meditation retreat programs involve yoga, though. Some will focus strictly on the experience of meditating. You can choose between a silent meditation retreat or a retreat focused on a specific type of meditation, like Insight Meditation or Mindfulness Meditation.

Let your teacher guide you through the experience so that you can leave the retreat center fully equipped for daily life.

Meditation Retreats for Beginners

Even if you have never practiced mindfulness meditation before, it doesn't mean that you can't participate in one of our yoga and meditation retreats. In fact, that's exactly who they are designed for!

Most yoga retreats that offer meditation will fall into the mindfulness meditation genre. This usually includes guided meditation and helpful workshops on different meditation techniques like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction MBSR.

There are more advanced yoga and meditation retreats, such as the traditional Buddhist meditation style, Insight Meditation (Vipassana Meditation), that may expect you to have at least a little bit of meditation experience.

But even then, most meditation centres are pretty happy to host you for their retreat, whether it's with simple guided meditation or Vipassana meditation.

Oftentimes, the retreat centres will also have yoga studios with daily yoga classes, making it a holiday for total health and well-being.

Even if you don't want to go full-blown silent retreat on your next holiday, you can still learn how to establish a mindfulness practice that you can take back with you for daily life. Learn how to use a walking meditation to keep your cool, or to create your own daily silent meditation sessions for a long-term practice. A little bit of silence goes a long way.

After all, every expert had to begin somewhere :)

In fact, meditation for beginners is not all that different from meditation for aficionados.

Loving kindness guided meditations will still work the same, whether you're a Buddhist monk or someone just starting their mindfulness practice.

So don't be nervous :)

Think of it a little bit like a yoga teacher training course: a silent meditation retreat can help you get the in-depth knowledge needed to fully immerse yourself in your mindfulness meditation practice.

You can find a meditation center that offers silent retreats so that you can begin your meditation practice in the best possible way... with the teachings of the leaders in the worl of meditation. Many monks live in silence and cultivate their meditation practice over long periods of time (ie years). Why can't you do the same with the time that you have?

Yoga and Meditation Retreats Around the World

There are so many beautiful places around the world or you to experience whole-body cleansings. Tuck yourself away at a beautiful retreat center or meditation center and get your mental health and wellness on.

A yoga and meditation retreat can help with that.

It will teach you how to incorporate a meditation practice into your daily life so that you can handle all that stress like a champ. Plus, it will give you the opportunity to see the world and experience new things.

But if you're really looking for the best guidance on how to live the yoga lifestyle, complete with the relaxation that comes with it, then go straight to the heart of it all. Here are some of our favorite spots to take a yoga holiday, practice meditation, and get back on track with our wellness.

If you're looking for a meditation experience based on modern Buddhism, then check out a Kadampa Meditation Center near you. Their centers regularly host workshops and sittings that explore Buddhist teachings. They also offer guided breathing meditation classes so that you can learn new breathing exercises and how to sit in stillness. By attending a weekly meditation session with them, you will be able to develop the skills to hold your own breathing space in your daily life. It's a great way to learn more about modern Buddhism before jumping into a full meditation retreat.

A Nepal yoga retreat will naturally come with some major lessons in meditation and relaxation. After all, it is one of the happiest countries in the entire world. How do they do it? By living, breathing, and fully embodying the yoga lifestyle. No, not the yoga lifestyle that clutters our Instagram feeds, but the yoga lifestyle of ancient wisdom. This includes Ayurveda, daily yoga practice, a daily meditation session, and healthy, vegetarian meals. If you can book yourself a Nepal yoga retreat then you will most definitely have a life-changing experience.

India is the motherland, the homeland, the birthplace of yoga. It only makes sense that it would also be the most transformative destination for your inner work. Learn how to guide your own meditation session and to lead your own yoga practice based on the ancient wisdom that the country was built upon. Learn how to prepare vegetarian meals and little tinctures based on the principles of Ayurveda. Join like-minded people on the experience of a lifetime and get your meditation practice up to the level that you deserve.

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas is super popular because who doesn't want a weekend retreat in the Bahamas? Plus, it is a spiritual community and study center that teaches you how to live a yogic lifestyle. It's a beautiful location, a beautiful group of like-minded people, and a beautiful lesson for you to take back to your everyday life.

Imagine daily yoga and meditation classes in a tropical climate, where the sun gently kisses your eyelids and the breeze gives you something to celebrate. Discover an inner peace while you meditate in a beautiful place like Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is perfectly situated near India, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and more. This means that it offers an eclectic mix of cultures and beliefs, making it the perfect place for you to practice meditation and mindfulness with a meditation group. Plus, it's a great vacation spot too.

Not everyone can go on a long vacation, though wouldn’t that be nice? Many people in the US are searching our site for weekend retreats and getaways in hopes of creating some balance in their day-to-day lives. These are the most popular:

Sometimes the yoga studio simply doesn't cut it when you're trying to improve your meditation and mindfulness practice. A weekend getaway to a meditation center out in the countryside may be just what you're looking for, then. Attend daily yoga and meditation classes, explore your meditation practice with other students in a small meditation group, and see what all that inner peace is about. You can pair your meditation sessions with gentle yoga, such as restorative yoga, to really get into the practice of being mindful. Though a weekend getaway is not a major vacation, it will certainly feel like one.

The United States is so lucky to have a tropical state like Florida. With just a quick flight, you can dig your toes into the white sandy beaches and begin your journey into relaxation, inner peace and happiness. Join other students at a yoga center in Florida to practice yoga, learn about meditation, and reconnect with your inner self. Many students experience deep healing when they explore meditation in this way. Might as well make a beach vacation out of it too :)

Meditation Retreats in the Bay Area

The Bay Area is most known for its star city, San Francisco. For us locals, though, it is also known for its down to earth vibe, good coffee, chilly weather, tech culture, and a hint of spirituality that sort of supports all beliefs and religions. It’s true! So naturally, it is a great spot for meditation. Head to the coast for a cool breeze and fresh air. Santa Cruz is like the mecca of all things hippie, natural, and beautiful. Berkeley is a super progressive spot with many educational opportunities, including informative meditation workshops and courses. And San Francisco is, well, *insert dreamy eyes here* San Francisco.

Take back your daily grind by escaping to a meditation retreat in New York. Plus, the city is so trendy that little meditation hubs are starting to pop up. Stop in for a lunchtime meditation, then escape for a weekend meditation retreat. Why are these meditation retreats so popular here? Well, New York generally has all of the best things the world has to offer. Add to that its proximity to Washington DC, Boston, and the major business culture of New England and you can easily understand why meditation might be a booming trend. Needless to say, you will certainly find what you're looking for here.

California, in general, is a great place for a meditation retreat. The entire state is packed with beautiful scenery, cool people, and easy weather. Meditate to the sound of crashing waves on the coast, rustling pine needles in the mountains, a gentle breeze in the desert, or the quiet trickle of a creek. California has basically everything to offer you. Head to Ojai or Joshua Tree for a cool desert-meets-ocean vibe or escape to the mountains (and there are plenty!) for a surreal pine-induced meditative state.

If you're struggling to keep from losing your mind in daily life, then take some time to dig into Buddhist teachings, breathing meditation, and peace and happiness. Reduce your anxiety levels with a weekly meditation led at one of the local meditation centers near you. With enough practice, you will be able to sit in stillness all by yourself, welcoming all that inner peace and happiness that a regular meditation practice has to offer. Isn't that nice?

Yoga and Meditation Retreats in England

London is the yoga mecca of the UK, offering endless classes in a wide variety of styles of yoga. With a culture that is so interconnected with India, it is no surprise that meditation holidays are increasingly popular in the UK as well. Instead of escaping for your next yoga holiday, check out what is absolutely thriving right next door. Plus, this makes it super easy for a quick spiritual weekend getaway!

Meditation Holidays in Gold Coast

Gold Coast is known as surfer's paradise, so the yoga and surf culture is strong here. You will be able to find a great place to go deep within yourself with the sound of the ocean in the background. The fresh ocean water will cleanse you and the warm Aussie sun will rejuvenate you. Go home as a brand new person.

Yoga Weekend Getaway in Byron Bay

Byron Bay has become the hippie's paradise of Australia. As such, the yoga culture rocks in Byron Bay. If you're looking for an accessible meditation retreat that still feels like a total escape, then check out what's going on in Byron Bay.

Okay, technically this isn't in Australia but it is super close. So close that it would be a shame to exclude it here. Bali has become the unofficial top yoga retreat destination over the years, so you will undoubtedly find an excellent yoga and meditation retreat there waiting for you. And since you're right there in Australia, it's not too far of a trip... which, for us, is good enough of a reason to go!

FAQ

Is it possible to be a Catholic and to do yoga and meditation?

Yes, it is. Meditation is not a spiritual practice nor is it technically associated with any religion. In fact, meditation is a lot like prayer and reaps many of the same benefits!

If you want to fully understand the benefits of a consistent meditation practice, then dig into the science behind it. You will be shocked how just a little bit of mindfulness can literally change your life. And let you continue being Catholic.

Do yoga and meditation really help us to be peaceful and act mature?

So this may sound totally contrived, but the answer is a resounding 'yes'! Yoga is not just about postures and a meditation practice is not just about reaching nirvana. Instead, meditation is an evidence-based practise that reduces high blood pressure, eases low-back pain, reduces stress and anxiety, and improves overall sense of well-being.

It does all of these things by rewiring the brain so that your brain is better equipped to handle life and all the stressors that come with it. It biologically eases the mind so that your day-to-day experience is legitimately better. It's science!

In fact, many mental health professionals draw upon different meditation techniques in their practise. One of the most popular (and most researched) techniques is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction MBSR. This technique provides meditation instruction that can be used in everyday life during day-to-day events. It is meant to improve your ability to cope with stress as it comes so that you can live your best life ever.

Many others encourage a daily mindfulness meditation practice to help their patients cope with everyday life. In a similar way that an MBSR program works, a mindfulness meditation practice gives you an overall sense of well-being...

What's the difference between yoga and meditation?

Yoga can be viewed in two ways. Historically, yoga is an all-encompassing approach to life that can easily be outlined by the yoga sutras. It includes yogic breathing, a series of yoga poses, as well as meditation (among other things).

Meditation by itself is simply a way to exercise the brain in order to bring more focus and awareness to daily living. This, in turn, improves overall brain functioning to the point of living bliss, which may sound like an exaggerated statement but, scientifically, it is not.

Why blame yoga and meditation?

Who knows? We certainly don't. Perhaps it's because most people in western cultures don't fully understand the many benefits of yoga and meditation. Nor do they understand that yoga and meditation are not exclusive to any religious or spiritual beliefs, either.

Things that are different than ourselves can be scary sometimes and yoga and meditation come from the east, which is indeed different than western cultures. All we need is a bit of yogic education ;)

How is yoga and meditation explained scientifically?

Oh boy, in SO many ways. But in a nutshell? Meditation strengthens neural connections that are responsible for concentration. By doing this, it also weakens the effects of stress by helping us to stay better connected to the present and avoiding a big, fat brain fart brought on by stress. Scientifically speaking.

How should I start yoga and meditation?

A little bit at a time. Both yoga and meditation can seem intimidating to someone just starting out, and that is because most people expect to be zen masters after just one session! Start small and work your way up. That's really all you can do. (It’s how we all begin!)

How could I better learn yoga and meditation?

Practice, practice, practice! With consistent mindfulness-based mind fitness training (as with meditation) and a committed yoga practice, you can easily become a seasoned yogi. Try out power yoga, hatha yoga, tantra yoga, or WHATEVER just to get the feel for your overall practice.

Consider checking out sahaja yoga, which combines yoga and meditation in a single practice. Kriya yoga also utilizes meditation in order to reach our fullest potential. Attend a few classes of all the different types of meditation to see what fits you and your personal style. Then jump in, fully. You will love it.

Is doing yoga and meditation overrated?

Nah. It is certainly a trend but it is not overrated. How do we know? Because when trends, science, and ancient history all come together to say that something is indeed wonderful ... isn't it?

What are the latest stress reduction or stress management techniques other than yoga and meditation?

Exercise, in general, is an excellent way to manage stress. A diet full of whole foods (aka antioxidants) can also help buffer stress. Combine that with good sleep, plenty of water, and lots of laughing and you've got yourself a pretty low-stress life.

Where to learn about yoga meditation and chakras online?

Do you know any basic meditation and yoga exercises?

Left nostril and right nostril breathing techniques are a great way to tip-toe into yogic breathing and meditation. Do a little bit of research online to see what is doable for you, and then give it a try!